Desk-ruler.



I Patented July 4,"l899.

y M F.. QQMETT..

DlESLK.' RULLELE...

(Applicaxm. filed; Slapta, 8 M898.;

, (No-Model.)

fm1. mmwu o., wAsmNaToN o c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

MATTHEW F. CONNETT, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO C. C. JANIN AND.I H. SCI-HEBERT, vOF 'SAME PLACE.

DESK-RU LER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,072, dated July 4,1899.

Application filed September 8, 1898. Serial No. 690,466. (No model.)

To (all whom, t Netty concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW F. CONNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Desk-Rules; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to desk-rulers.

The obj ect of the invention is to provide an article of the classreferred to which shall have all the essentials of and be adapted fortheuses of an ordinary ruler and at the same time be so constructed andprovided with such attachments as to enable a user to weigh smallarticles for the purpose, for instance, of determining the necessarypostage for transmitting the articles through the mails.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide a desk-ruler havingcombined therewith attachments by the use of which, in conjunction witha pen or pencil, circles of any desired and predetermined diameter mayaccurately be drawn. j

An embodiment of the invention showing the preferred construction isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideview of a ruler. A Fig. 2 is a view similar to what is shown in Fig. l,showing the opposite side. Fig. 3 is antenlarged view of one end of theruler, a part being broken away, showing by full lines the means for usein drawing circles ready for operation and by dotted lines the positionassumed after use; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the positionof the cord in drawing a circle.

In the drawings, Arepresents a ruler which in general form correspondsto the usual form of these articles, being provided on one side withabeveled edge @,bearing the usual marks indicating inches and divisionsthereof.

The ruler is provided at one end with a plate B, the mainportion ofwhich is arranged in a countersinkv on one side of the ruler and whichhas its end b bent at right angles to the main portion, theright-angular portion being of a length corresponding to the thicknessof the body of the ruler. The plate has a slot b in its main portion,receiving a'headed pin o2, by which the plate is retained in place onthe ruler in such manner as to allow the plate to be movedlongitudinally of the ruler to allow the portion b to be moved toward oraway from the end of the ruler. Arranged between the plate B and theruler is a leaf-spring b3,- attached at one end to a pin b4, set in thebody of the ruler, and at the other end bearing against a projection b5on the'inner face of the plate B, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l ofthe drawings. A piece of metal bG is set into the face of the ruler atthe end opposite to that at which the plate B is placed, and it is ofproper weight to insure the accurate indication of the weight of anarticle when the latter is placed in proper position and the ruler usedas hereinafter indicated. On the opposite side of the ruler to that onwhich the plate B is attached is a scale b?, indicating ounces andfractions thereof.

In the use of the above-described portion of my invention the ruler isplaced, with the bev eled face downward, on a pencil or the like, andthe end of the plate B which rests against the end of the ruler is movedout. The article to be weighed is placed between the end of the rulerand the end of the plate, where it will be held by the action of thespring b3. After this the ruler is moved longitudinally on the pencil orthe like until it balances, and the marks of ounces are so arranged thatthe Vmark in line with the article on which the ruler is placed willindicate the weight of the object attach-ed to the end of the ruler.When the object weighed is removed, the plate B is returned to itsnormal position by the spring b3.

At the end of the ruler opposite Ato that at which the plate B isarranged is the means, which Will now be described, for use in drawingcircles. This consists, essentially, of the pointed projection C and thecord C. The projection is mounted on al small block c', pivotallyattached to a plate c2, which covers an opening in the ruler, receivingthe block. Adjacent to the pointed projection in the block c is anopening through which the cord IOO C runs. The outer end of the cord hasa ring attached thereto, and the other end of the cord extends from theblock down into an opening c in the ruler. I)laced in this opening is apiece of rubber c3, as shown in full lines, or a coiled spring, as shownin dotted lines. The end of the rubber or spring removed from the platec2 is fastened securely in the groove, and to the other end the cord Cis attached.

The end of the plate c2 which is bent at right angles to fit alongparallel to the end of the ruler has cut in it a way c, having at oneend thereof a depression c5. A sliding plate D is arranged between theplate c2 and the end of the ruler. This plate consists of the mainportion, having a projection d, adapted to project into and move backand forth in the way c4 and to enter the depression c5, and the springportion d', bearing against the end of the ruler.

The block c has in it an indentation forming a guideway for the cord andalso for the reduced end d2 of the plate D.

In the normal positions of the parts the block c', and consequently thepointed projection and the end of the cord, are by the tension of therubber or spring moved inward to be inside the edge of the ruler.

When it is desired to use the circle-drawing attachment, the plate D ismoved until its projection enters the depression in the way c4. By thismovement the block is moved on its pivot, causing the pointed projectionto extend beyond the edge of the ruler and also bringing the ring on theend of the cord into a position to be grasped. After this the cord isdrawn along the edge of the ruler until a distance corresponding to theradius of a circle to be drawn is reached on the scale. Vhen the partsare in this position, the pointed projection is placed on the pointwhich is to be the center of the circle to be drawn and a pen, pencil,or the like passed through the ring in the end of the cord. Keeping thecord extended, the pen or pencil is moved, and as a result a perfectcircle is described. XVhen the plate D is moved against the block c',the cord is pressed against the block by the bent end of the plate insuch way as to allow the cord to be withdrawn freely, and at the sametime inward movement of the cord is prevented, the strain exercised bythe rubber or spring exerting a strain to bind the cord against theblock. After using the device the plate D is moved back from the block,releasing the cord, which will be drawn inward by the ru bber or springuntil the ring on the end of the cord comes in contact with the block,when the latter is moved inward, bringing the pointed projection and thering inside the face of the ruler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A ruler having combined therewith a movable pointed projection, acord provided at its end with a ring, elastic means for connecting thecord to the ruler, and means for locking the cord, substantially asdescribed.

2. A ruler having combined therewith a pointed projection mounted on amovable block, a cord passing through an opening in the block, a movableplate having a projection adapted to press the cord against the block,and elastic means for attaching the cord to the ruler.

3. A ruler having combined therewith a pointed projection mounted on amovable block, a cord passing through an opening in the block, elasticmeans for connecting the cord to the ruler, and a sliding plate adaptedto move the block outward and to engage the cord, substantially asdescribed.

4. A ruler having combined therewith a pointed projection mounted on amovable block, a cord passing through an opening in the block, elasticmeans for connecting the cord to the ruler, a plate provided with a wayhaving an indentation arranged adjacent to the block, and a slidingplate arranged in the way and having a projection entering theindentation and adapted to be brought into contact with the block tomove it outward and to engage the cord, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW F. CONNETT.

Witnesses:

F. F. YALE, C. H. WAGNER.

